Please
use the links at left for a comprehensive collection
of postal mail and email addresses from around the world to contact
on behalf of the minors on death row in Iran awaiting
execution.
Letter writing guide
(Courtesy Amnesty International)
1.
Always be polite. This rule is essential and invariable.
Your aim is to help a prisoner, not to relieve your
own feelings. Governments don't respond to abusive
or condemnatory letters (however well deserved).
2.
Always write your letters on the basis that the
government concerned is open to reason and discussion.
3.
It is important where possible to stress a country's
reputation for moderation and justice, to show respect
for its constitution and judicial procedures, and
to demonstrate an understanding of current difficulties.
This will give more scope to point out ways in which
the human rights situation can be improved.
4.
Follow strictly the instructions given by Amnesty
International in the case in question. For instance
if the World Wide Appeal asks you to appeal for
medical treatment for a prisoner, make sure that
you request this, and not a speedy trial or release
which might be appropriate in another case.
5.
Never use political jargon. Don't give the impression
that you are writing because you are ideologically
or politically opposed to the government in question.
It is far more effective to stress the fact that
your concern for human rights is not politically
based in any way, but in keeping with basic principles
of international law.
6.
If appropriate, please explain who you are and what
you do. Some of our sample letters
(below) do this. This indicates that the letter
is genuine, and also shows that people from varying
walks of life are following events in the country
concerned.
7.
If you have any special interest or link with the
country, it is a good idea to mention this in your
letter. For instance, you may have visited it or
studied its history. (See sample letter H.)
BE
BRIEF. A simple, one-line letter
is adequate (see sample letters A
and B)
and is certainly better than no letter at all. Sample
letters C
and D
might be considered the standard length to aim at
where you have nothing special to add. A good rule
is not to write more than one page (ie one side).
Sample
letters:
Sample
letter A
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to appeal to you, on humanitarian grounds,
to release ......... .
Yours truly,
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Sample
letter B
Your Excellency,
I write to appeal to you, on humanitarian grounds,
to spare the life of......... presently under sentence
of death.
Yours sincerely,
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Sample
letter C
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to you, in the spirit of friendship
that has always existed between your country and
mine, about the plight of ......... who I understand
has been detained for nearly three years under the
Internal Security Act without any reason being given.
If this information is correct, this would appear
to violate Article 9 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, which says "No one shall be subject
to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile". I therefore
appeal to you to look into this case urgently, with
a view to releasing ......... .
Yours respectfully,
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Sample
letter D
Dear Minister,
I write this letter as a Board Member of the Moravian
Friendship Association to appeal to you to ensure
that Professor ........., a prisoner held in .........
State Prison, is given the medical treatment she
requires and an adequate diet. In view of the seriousness
of this case, I would ask you to make inquiries
to satisfy yourself personally that the conditions
under which she is kept in prison are in keeping
with the basic standards expected today by all members
of the international community.
I would like to add that our Association, whose
function it is to promote friendship and goodwill
between the peoples of our two countries, has every
confidence that the human rights enshrined in your
Constitution are fully observed in your country.
Yours sincerely,
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Sample
letter E
Your Excellency,
I am a clerk in government service in Sri Lanka,
and I also work in a voluntary Buddhist social service
organization. I am deeply concerned at the news
that ......... has been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment
in your country for publishing an article critical
of the government. If this is true, it appears to
be a harsh and unjust punishment. I appeal to you
on humanitarian grounds, and in furtherance of the
principle of freedom of expression enshrined in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to review
this case with a view to releasing ..........
Yours sincerely,
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Sample
letter F
Your Excellency,
In my capacity as President of the Women's Institute
of Toronto, I am writing to you on the subject of
the recent arrest of ......... who is, I understand,
in detention under the regulations for the Suppression
of Rebellion.
In view of the information available to me concerning
this case, ......... is deprived of her freedom
in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. May I take the liberty of drawing to your
attention the specific violations of the Declaration
apparently involved in her case.
Her arrest under the regulations for the Suppression
of Rebellion constitutes a violation of Article
9 of the Declaration. She has been held since her
arrest without charge (at least as far as is publicly
known) and without trial, which constitutes a violation
of Articles 9 and 10 of the Declaration.
The only reason which has been given for the arrest
of ......... is her role in the legal and legitimate
opposition in the public life of your country, not
only as a parliamentarian, but as a political worker
conducting actions guaranteed the full protection
of your Constitution. It therefore appears that
the rights proclaimed in Articles 18 and 19 of the
Declaration have also been violated.
Motivated solely by respect for human rights, I
appeal to you to intervene personally in this case
to secure the immediate release of ......... from
detention or to grant her the right to an early,
fair and open trial.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of
my highest consideration,
Yours sincerely,
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Sample
letter G
Your Honour,
I am an engineer, and I worked on an irrigation
project at ......... where the dam was constructed
with the expert assistance of technicians from your
country. This was truly a memorable experience.
The dedication of your engineers, both to the irrigation
project and to the development of your country,
was really inspiring. Many misconceptions about
your country were dispelled, and we became good
friends too. It was therefore with special concern
that I came to hear of the case of.........
I understand that he was arrested in November for
publishing a book critical of some aspects of the
government, and has been held since then without
charge or trial in contravention of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This matter has been
the subject of discussion among my colleagues. If
the facts are incorrect, please let me know and
I will see that the true version is explained. If,
however, they are true, I appeal to you to look
into this case with a view to releasing.........
Yours sincerely,
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Sample
letter H
Your Excellency,
Some time ago I wrote to you about the case of prisoner
of conscience.........
I was delighted to learn that ...... has been released
and is now happily reunited with her four young
children. I do appreciate very much this act of
compassion and humanity on your part.
Yours sincerely,
